Smithville Police Department Retires K-9 “Leo”

The Smithville Police Department is now without a K-9 unit
At the request of Police Chief Mark Collins, the aldermen Monday night voted to retire the department’s K-9 “Leo” and to give the dog to his handler, former K-9 officer James Cornelius.
Chief Collins explained that the K-9 unit was being discontinued due to the dog’s age and because Officer Cornelius is being promoted to the rank of Sergeant within the department. “Taking over as Sergeant, I felt that Officer Cornelius wouldn’t have the time nor the opportunity to work with the dog like he needed to. I felt that it was best for the department, because of the dog’s age, to retire him instead on putting him with another handler. At this time we no longer have a K-9 unit. Sometime in the future I look to get a new dog with another handler,” said Chief Collins.
The aldermen also approved Collins’ request to promote Officer Cornelius to the rank of Sergeant.